Find out how popular the last name Yoast is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Yoast.

Yoast, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Yoast surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoast in America

Yoast is the 57639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoast surname appeared 353 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Yoast.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoast to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Yoast

The surname Yoast has its origins in the Netherlands, specifically deriving from the Dutch language and culture. Yoast is a patronymic surname, which means it is based on the first name of an ancestor. It is derived from the given name Joost or Jodocus, which were quite common in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages. Joost is itself derived from the Latin name "Jodocus," which in turn originated from the Old Breton name "Iodoc," meaning "lord."

Yoast first appeared in written records in the 13th and 14th centuries as trade and literacy increased among the populations of the Low Countries. The surname evolved with various spellings in different regions, such as Joost, Joosten, and Joos. Linguistic variations were common due to dialectal differences and the lack of standardized spelling during medieval times.

Historical references to the surname include Johannes Joost, a merchant recorded in Amsterdam in 1382. This name also appeared in the Dutch West India Company's records, indicating that bearers of the name were involved in trade and possibly exploration during the Age of Discovery. The name Yoast was carried by some Dutch emigrants to other parts of Europe and subsequently to America during the 17th and 18th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded examples in the United States is Jacob Yoast, who settled in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. Jacob's descendants became well-known in their communities. Another notable person was Captain John Yoast, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, born in 1746 and died in 1828. His military service is well-documented in pension records from the period.

Alexander Yoast, born in 1812, was a prominent landowner and farmer in Ohio during the early 19th century, reflecting the westward expansion of families bearing the Yoast surname. The name Yoast gained some historical notoriety during the American Civil War through Lieutenant Michael Yoast, born in 1838 and killed in action in 1864, noted in military records for his bravery.

In the world of religion and education, Reverend Thomas Yoast, born in 1850 and died in 1917, made significant contributions to the Methodist movement in the U.S., helping to establish several congregations and educational institutions. His works are often referenced in church archives.

The Yoast surname has a rich history that reflects various aspects of European and American development through trade, military service, land ownership, and religious and educational contributions. Notably, although less common today, the surname continues to be recognized through historical records and family lineages tracing their roots back to the early Dutch origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoast

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Yoast.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Yoast was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Yoast has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Yoast was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Yoast, please contact us.

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